60th Academy of Country Music Awards

The 60th Academy of Country Music Awards were held on May 8, 2025, at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Reba McEntire returned as host.

Background

On November 2, 2023, the Academy of Country Music announced that it would renew its partnership with Prime Video through 2025. Reba McEntire will host the ceremony for the eighteenth time. In press releases, ACM says "the monumental show will celebrate six decades of Country Music and feature unforgettable performances by the genre's most legendary and multi-award-winning stars". Radio and TV Personality Bobby Bones will conduct candid Interviews with artists throughout the show.

First time nominee, Ella Langley, led with seven nominations, including one as a director of her music video. Cody Johnson, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson followed closely behind with six nominations each. Langley took home the most awards of the evening with five, two as both an artist of her music video and as a director.

Triple Crown Award

On May 5, ACM announced that country superstar, Keith Urban, will be honored with the ACM Triple Crown Award. The honor distinguishes the achievement of an artist, duo or group upon receiving a New Artist award, Male/Female Artist (or Duo/Group) award, and Entertainer of the Year awards.

Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award

During the ceremony, Reba McEntire surprised the audience with announcement of the inaugural Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement award. Along with a special performance by the awards namesake and inaugural honoree, multi-ACM award winner, Alan Jackson. The award will continue to recognize an iconic artist, duo, or group that has achieved both national and international prominence and stature through concert performances, philanthropy, record sales, streaming numbers, and public representation.

Winners & Nominees

The nominees will be revealed on Thursday, March 27. The eligibility period for submissions for the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards is January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.

Special awards

Performers

Presenters

• Lionel Richie – presented Song of the Year
• Riley Green – introduced New Male Artist of the Year, Zach Top
• The Oak Ridge Boys – presented Group of the Year
• Clint Black – presented Male Artist of the Year
• Kristian Bush of Sugarland – presented Duo of the Year
• Gabby Barrett – introduced New Female Artist of the Year, Ella Langley
• Reba McEntire – presented Single of the Year and the Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award to Alan Jackson
• Carly Pearce – recognized ACM Lifting Lives and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital
• Martina McBride, Gretchen Wilson, Sara Evans, Crystal Gayle, and Wynonna Judd – presented Female Artist of the Year
• Ernest – introduced Jelly Roll and Shaboozey
• Amber Anderson and Kelly Sutton – recognized Dasha as Amazon Music's 'Breakthrough Artist'
• Little Big Town – presented Album of the Year
• Jordan Davis and Chase Elliott – introduced Cody Johnson
• Lee Ann Womack and Parker McCollum – presented Musical Event of the Year
• Rita Wilson – introduced Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert and Lainey Wilson
• Blake Shelton – presented Entertainer of the Year

Milestones

• Ella Langley earns the most nominations of any artist in their first year of being nominated with seven total. Langley also holds the record for most wins for any artist in their first year of being nominated with five.
• Kelsea Ballerini earns her first nomination for Entertainer of the Year.
• Lainey Wilson's win for Entertainer of the Year marks her second year in a row winning the award, making her the third woman to win the award back-to-back (Taylor Swift in 2011 and 2012, Carrie Underwood in 2009 and 2010). With her additional wins for Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, Wilson became the second woman in history to win all three awards in the same ceremony, following Loretta Lynn who did the same in 1976.
• Brooks & Dunn win Duo of the Year for the first time since 2009. Increasing their win count to a record seventeenth win in the category; increasing their own record and bringing their ACM Award count to thirty-one.

References